Этюд в багровых тонах
The Lauriston Garden Mystery
Seethatcandleonthemantelpiece. Itwaslitatthetime,andifitwaslitthiscornerwouldbethebrightestinsteadofthedarkestportionofthewall.”
“Andwhatdoesitmeannowthatyouhavefoundit?”askedGregsoninadepreciatoryvoice.
“Mean?Why,itmeansthatthewriterwasgoingtoputthefemalenameRachel,butwasdisturbedbeforeheorshehadtimetofinish. Youmarkmywords,whenthiscasecomestobeclearedupyouwillfindthatawomannamedRachelhassomethingtodowithit. It’sallverywellforyoutolaugh,Mr.SherlockHolmes. Youmaybeverysmartandclever,buttheoldhoundisthebest,whenallissaidanddone.”
“Ireallybegyourpardon!”saidmycompanion,whohadruffledthelittleman’stemperbyburstingintoanexplosionoflaughter. “Youcertainlyhavethecreditofbeingthefirstofustofindthisout,and,asyousay,itbearseverymarkofhavingbeenwrittenbytheotherparticipantinlastnight’smystery. Ihavenothadtimetoexaminethisroomyet,butwithyourpermissionIshalldosonow.”
Ashespoke,hewhippedatapemeasureandalargeroundmagnifyingglassfromhispocket.Withthesetwoimplementshetrottednoiselesslyabouttheroom,sometimesstopping,occasionallykneeling,andoncelyingflatuponhisface. Soengrossedwashewithhisoccupationthatheappearedtohaveforgottenourpresence,forhechatteredawaytohimselfunderhisbreaththewholetime,keepinguparunningfireofexclamations,groans,whistles,andlittlecriessuggestiveofencouragementandofhope.
